Chapter 46 - Meeting the Headmaster (Patreon)

Tom waited impatiently outside the closed doors. He was walking nervously and making a game of not stepping on the gaps between the large marble pavers. From everything he had overheard over the last few days, this was a standard interview. Yes, it was twice as long as what the older kids got because it was his first one with Dimitri. But this process was normal and had been occurring for decades. A routine meet and chat with the headmaster kind of thing, but Tom was sure it would be more than that.

He couldn’t wait to get answers from him.  

The assistant for the day watched him with a bored expression. She had fetched him ten minutes ago and hadn’t said a word. Tom didn’t mind, he didn’t want to associate with her anyway. She was a failed competitor, one who had progressed so little that after fifty years she had deep wrinkles on her face and looked over sixty. That meant age had barely slowed down for her.

It was all speculation on Tom’s behalf because she hadn’t volunteered anything. However, those lines etched on her face told their own story. She must have lost her nerves badly to have gained so little vitality over the years. Crafting gave experience but less than killing, but even with that constraint she probably should have been able to delay aging more. She was literally the oldest looking person he had seen in Existentia. He wondered what her history was… Had she lost her nerve or was the story darker. Had she put everything into magic, fate and agility to aid her crafting because she had never intended to survive to the end of the competition.

Her fate levels suggested that that guess might not be too far off and like most adults her pool was not empty. It was a raging ocean.

Click.

Tom looked up, and the door to the study opened. Bir came out with Dimitri next to her. His friend seemed to be happy. The old lady moved with surprising grace to grab Bir’s attention while waving him toward the office with her other hand.

For this component of the role, she was very competent. He did as instructed.

The room he entered was bare, with the exception of two basic but comfortable looking chairs. There were sealed cupboards on all sides, while the floors and roof were made of large white tiles all of which were inter-laid with dense glyphs and runes. The runes that ran down the walls and over the cupboard doors were not quite as dense, but were still filled with power. As he entered, he could feel the latent energy held in those rituals. They glowed in his vision already active. He didn’t have the knowledge to understand what had been engraved, but it was pretty easy to guess. This was a secure vault if he had ever seen one.

Dimitri, following him closed the first set of doors. Magic flared and the door seams vanished. Then he stepped into the room and closed the second set.

They, too, flashed in the same manner. Then Dimitri stood there with a hand on the door and magic flooded out of him and entered the runic structure. All around him, extra glyphs lit up as the magic spread and triggered them.

With a sigh, Dimitri lowered his hand. “The room’s secure. Let’s get started. Tom. Please sit.” He gestured at the chair that faced away from the door. “Unfortunately, we only have thirty minutes. You might think that’s heaps, but you’d be mistaken. I wish we had full hour, but appearances need to be maintained, so there’s no time for pleasantries.” He sat on his own chair. “Getting straight to business, I’m sure you’re aware that your year’s naming ceremony is in a month. It’s a source of drama for most, but luckily not for you. You’re to select the name Tom Smith.”

Tom had been pondering what to call himself and he had noted that Corrine had chosen the same one she had in her first life and he had decided that was not something he could do. He felt he was too famous for that. “No. That’s not a good idea.”

Dimitri raised an eyebrow at that statement. “Why? Is it because you want to keep your full name or because you were part of the heroes?”

“The second, of course. I’m not stupid enough to tag myself with my original name. Doing so would cause issues.”

“I don’t care. You’re to take the name Tom Smith. The instructions came from priests.”

“So?”

Dimitri bit his lip. “How do I explain this? You lack required background, so basically priest classes don’t do much. They represent massive investment and only give back minimal guidance. But small perfect instructions beat hundreds of wishy washy orders. We actively encourage people to take priest path.  Why? You might ask. Well, it’s because when they speak, they speak with DEUS’s voice. When they speak, we listen and obey. For reincarnators, instructions are clear. You are to take your previous first name, as doing so provides protection.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“It doesn’t have to, Tom.” Dimitri sighed. “These are GOD things.”

“Why Smith?”

“Because true orphans choosing a unique second name would give away reincarnators. True orphans take the name smith, those with not parents choose their Dad’s or Mum’s. You selecting Tom from the list of ten thousand names is perfectly natural. Listen, this is a point of contention with nearly every one of us who is reincarnated. Given you were part of the heroes it probably feels more problematic for you but we honestly don’t have time to debate further. The priests have made a proclamation, so just deal with.”

This was not something to argue about. He had seen the cost of the priest option. It was a lot, and it was paid because of the connection it gave to DEUS. If they said something was required, who was he to dispute it, he who had been given this chance by DEUS to argue back. “Understood. What’s next?”

Dimitri smiled. It was good to see as it  was something Tom noted that he rarely did.     

“Now I’ve already spoken to Kang and Corrine, so I know what you’ve covered with them, so there is no point discussing that stuff and I guess you’ve got questions, but let me finish getting the important things out of the way. The second critical thing for us to cover is emergency measures.”

Tom stared blankly at Dimitri for a moment and was rewarded with another amused smile. Apparently the other man enjoyed teasing the newly reincarnated a little bit.

“It’s exactly what you’re thinking. You need a way to contact me safely just in case.”

“Why would I need that?”

Dimitri shrugged. “It’s protocol, and it’s proven important in the past. A decade ago when I first started in this role someone thought they were being watched. She was right, and we amped security for her until we cleared away the watchers. If we hadn’t acted, she almost certainly would have been killed. Another told a friend about being reincarnated and I had to step in to stop them from accidently revealing that information”

“What an idiot. I like Bir, but she is a kid. I’d never reveal the secret of my past life to her.”

“Not an idiot, just human,” Dimitri corrected. “The isolation and the weight of the secret get harder to keep in as you get older. The rule is not to never tell someone. It’s don’t tell them until your title tells you that you can.”

“What? Really? The title does that?”

Dimitri nodded. “Yes, once you build up sufficient trust with someone and the other person is mature enough, you can let them in on the secret. Now, what’s a suitable emergency signal for you?” the caretaker pondered the question for a moment. “For you, I think, a tug on my ear.”

Tom couldn’t imagine anything more bizarre than going up to the big man and trying to jump up to grab the ear. “Are you serious?”

“Deadly,” Dimitri responded with a stern expression. “You’re going to have to change how you interact with me, but it’s the best option I have available. Everyone of you has a different method to draw attention and this one won’t be too difficult to set up. Lots of children are affectionate with me. You’ll need to do the same and then you’ll have lots of opportunities to send the signal.”

“Despite this ridiculous body I’m a grown man. Can’t I write a note or something?”

“Definitely not. Our enemies are not stupid. Most of the time we keep the orphanage clear of interlopers, but the wider town kills or chases away a spy once a month. And before you ask, yes those spies are only here to kill the reincarnated. We’d have to be naïve to think that none of them get a look into here, some even get through the wards. That’s rarer but it happens.  The real issue is that if you need to contact me, it’ll probably be because our security is breached or you’re in personal trouble. The emergency signal has to be natural, and not alarm any operative that is paying extra attention to you or me. The strategy is to protect you.”

“But expecting me to hug you is weird. …”

Dimitri massaged the bridge of his nose. “Tom, you’re a grown man. Deal with it. I’ve been here a decade. This will work.”

“Why?”

“It’ll work because I know how little kids are supposed to behave. You’re hard wired to attach yourself to adults.”

“No, why are you doing this role? Why are you in the orphanage.”

Dimitri sighed. “I get where you’re coming from. I really do, but your suspicions are misplaced. I’m here because Eden asked me to. That’s it. Being here is the best use of my talents. If it’s a choice between me being in the field or her, I’m always choosing her.”

“But I’ve watched you and seen you move. You’re remarkably strong.”

The older man sighed. “I’m powerful, but she’s better.”

“I get that, but why have someone as powerful as you here.”

“The speech you were given at the introduction ceremony was real. What you’ve read in the isolation room is accurate. Assassins are still coming for those who have been reincarnated and we need permanent presence here who can deal with them when that happens.”

“You’re here as a deterrent?”

“No, the label deterrent is wrong. It suggests my existence stops them from coming. Believe me it doesn’t. Terror races don’t work like that especially when they’re on a divine mission. No, my role is more basic. I’m here for pest control. “So, tug on my ear if you require help. Do it multiple times if it’s super urgent. When we leave here, you need to set up the connection to me. Stage a fight or jump off the blanket fort when I’m around. Do something where I’ll have to comfort you. If that sounds too uncomfortable, hurt yourself and retreat to your pseudo system room, let the you without adult memories run the show for that bit. Set up the routine as soon as possible, so if you ever need to contact me it’ll look natural.

“And there’s really nothing else I can do. Stick out my tongue or something?”

Dimitri shook his head. “I have one that taps my knee, another hugs my leg and doesn’t let go. A girl who will pick her god damn nose in front of me and wipe it on her tunic, another that kisses my left cheek instead of right, a boy who will throw a temper tantrum and injure someone, and finally someone who’s willing to break their left hand. ”

“I could do that one.”

Dimitri stared him straight in the eye a small smile on his lips. “Two people injuring their hands on the same day might be a little suspicious.”

“I could break my foot instead, or my nose by running into something.”

Dimitri shook his head. “You don’t need to make this so hard. While you’re under nine, it’s something like the ear. Then you mature and you get different methods. I don’t see why the ear is problem. Your body is four. Hugging adults is normal, and it actually improves your disguise.”

“Fine. Consider it done. I’ll do it.” Tom said, deciding it was not worth arguing over it anymore.

“Good and Tom. This is for emergencies only. This is not I need a specific poison or better dagger type of contact. Those types of requests wait until these briefing sessions. The ear is for life and death issues only.”

“I got it.  Is there anything else or can I ask questions?”

“Ask away.”

“How do resources work?”

“I’ll do my best to get you whatever specific thing you need. But I probably can’t source a trait like I did for Corrine. I just don’t have the personal credits, anymore.”

“Anything I want?”

Dimitri nodded.

“Is there a budget?”

“No. Not as such. I have resources I draw on to help. They’re limited, but if your need’s genuine, I can lean on adventurers as they come through. Nothing’s guaranteed, of course, and the title will stop me from using the fact you’re a hero of humanity, to get you extra so you’ll be getting standard treatment no matter how much I personally might want to aid you. I can’t give you anymore than anyone else.”

Tom noted the tone the other man had used. For a moment, he had sounded as close to hero worship as Corrine had got when she had found out his status.

“And what you receive is not for free and handed to you under the table. That’s too suspicious. Everything gets funnelled through the end-of-year tournaments.”

“Do I have to win?”

Dimitri laughed. “I’m sure Corrine covered this with you. No, you don’t have to win and we usually don’t actually want you to. Standard procedure is to include a couple of better items and tell you to get third or fourth. If the objects are too valuable, then maybe we’ll ask you to win, but that situation is rare. Expensive items are only helpful to reincarnators in a few unique circumstances.”

“What stuffs been asked for in the past? Oh, and how many reincarnators are there?”

“For the last decade, we’ve averaged three reincarnators per year. Exact numbers varies, yours has more, the two years above you has less. As for what has been previously requested. Well, some ask for nothing. Occasionally I get requests for skills and spells,” he frowned as he said that. “Those I turn down until you turn ten. I also get lots of begging to add rooms with specific training aids. I usually accommodate those. Someone wanted a chain sword once and another to change their bloodline. It was a cheap bloodline so I complied.”

“Why would you do that? Why would someone ever want that? With our extra thirty fate they have to be losing out on attributes if it was a cheap bloodline like you suggested.”

“Yes, it wasn’t a great deal on a raw power basis, but they had their reasons around synergy.” Dimitri answered smoothly.

Tom understood intuitively what he meant. They clearly had titles and or traits that worked better with the different bloodline and had leant into that strength. He guessed he would do the same.   

“You know about Corrine,” Dimitri continued. “And her getting a trait to boost her into the Divine trial. Every three or four years I get one like that.” The other man shrugged. “It varies to be honest. But whoever is in my role tries their hardest.”

Tom nodded. What he was saying made a lot of sense to him. “Well, instead of what has been asked for previously what would you recommend that I get?”

 “It depends on your build. But talking in generalities I think the best items to concentrate on are natural treasures to either boost a magic affinity or your body. Then spell and skill affinity stones for an ability you already have. Sometimes boosting a skill from level one to ten can be a good enhancer.”

“Like spear mastery.” Tom muttered to himself.

“Yes, something like that. It becomes a force multiplier in getting other related skills. And I guess the last type of items is instructional aids like your ring.”

Tom glanced down at the band on his finger. It was very useful both for managing his rage with dampen senses and also for training.

“I don’t know what she was thinking about when she chose to give you that . Maybe she suspected you were reincarnated because that ring to anyone else would have been useless. You getting that is super lucky. The only thing I insist on is that you don’t get skills or spells until you’ve been here a few years.”

“Only those not traits?” he teased immediately.

“I recommend traits are delayed for a different reason. Traits are difficult to develop independently. Especially ones that are only complimentary to your main build but not directly related. My recommendation to delay taking them on to ensure anything you get is perfect for you long term. Unlike spells and skills, which humanity doesn’t value, because ultimately we can buy them from the experience shop, traits have inherent value to us. They’re more than a trade good. They are valuable and in most cases why would you give them to a kid, even a reincarnator, when it can go to a current champion of humanity. If you boost Cam’s lightning power by ten percent, that’s a huge upgrade, or Eden’s archery by five per cent or any of the heroes. Traits are hard to acquire because of that and more broadly all the natives have their own powerhouses to promote.”

“Corrine got very lucky.”

The other man shook his head. “Yes, and no. We don’t want any of our champions fighting anything more powerful than them. That trait was not one they would have benefitted from.”

“As an emergency measure, it’s pretty good.”

Dimitri laughed hollowly. “Yes, no. Our experience is that you give humans a shield. It just means they’ll push harder. They’ll climb ranks faster but become far more likely to die. That talent was dangerous. Much better used going to Corrine to get her into the divine champion’s trial. As I said you can ask for traits but you might not receive one.”

“I don’t want a trait.” Tom admitted. “I’d like to see what I can create myself. To see how far I’m capable of pushing my body and magic.”

“Good.”

“I do however have a couple of things I desire. My first question is can the isolation rooms be updated to include teleportation and precognition spell guides?”

Dimitri raised an eyebrow at that request. “That was not what I was expecting.”

“It’s part of where I want my long-term build to go, but unlike most paths they’re not included in the isolation rooms.”

“My gut instinct is we can’t do it, but let me check?”

The older man closed his eyes, and the animation left him as he retreated into his system room.

Tom stared at Dimitri and wondered what exactly he was doing in his system room.